Do Now
When the map appears, list what numbers
1-6 represent.
4
2
6
3
1
5
Italy
Macedonia
Cyprus
Turkey
Mediterranean Sea
Adriatic Sea
Greece
Constantinople
Spain
Sparta
Aegean Sea
Black Sea
Key: Cities are red, Countries are green, bodies of water are blue
The Split Between the
Churches
Byzantine Empire Unit
Christianity in the Byzantine Empire
Official religion of Byzantine
Empire
Church worked closely with
government
Emperor was believed to be
Christ’s representative on
Earth.
The Issue of Icons
The Issue of Icons
Divided church for 100 years; final straw in
the split
Some believed icons to be worshipped,
some saw them as symbols of God’s
presence.
AD 726 – Byzantine Emperor Leo III ends
use of icons in church.
Followers known as iconoclasts = image
breakers.
Many refused to follow; AD 787 church
appeals decision
Let’s Get Ready to Rumble!
Fight damaged Eastern/Western Church
Pope (from Rome) has Leo III (from
Constantinople) excommunicated (kicked out
of the Church)
Pope liked icons because many in West were
illiterate and pictures helped the service
Patriarch (like the Pope in the east) of
Constantinople refuses to recognize Pope
because the Emperor (Leo) was Christ’s
representative on Earth.
The Pope & the Byzantine Empire
Break Up
Pope breaks ties with Byzantine Empire
Crowns Charlemagne, Emperor of Holy
Roman Empire. (shows the Pope is in
charge of politics in the west)
Byzantines become upset, leads to Great
Schism of 1054.
Schism – split or breaking up
Eastern Orthodox Church born in
Constantinople and Roman Catholic
Church based in Rome
Roman Catholicism v. Eastern Orthodox
Roman Catholicism –
In West
 Centered in Rome
 Priests were celibate
 Latin used in services
 Supported use of
icons
 Headed by Pope
 Becomes Roman
Catholic Church
Eastern Orthodox –
In East
 Centered in
Constantinople
 Priests could marry
 Greek used in services
 Forbid use of icons
 Headed by Patriarch
 Becomes Eastern
Orthodox Church
Cyril Spreads Christianity
Byzantine monks traditionally spread
Christianity.
Most famous was Cyril, traveled Slavic regions
of Eastern Europe.
Gained followers and made major contribution of
Cyrillic alphabet.
Most Slavs were illiterate so he designed an
alphabet based on Greek and their language.
Cyrillic alphabet – based loosely on Greek
alphabet; still used in parts of Europe
The Cyrillic Alphabet
Reflection
How do you think the split in the church
may affect the long term cultural
differences in the east and the west?